Maximum Exposure: One to Twenty

The project created a series of new visual arts commissions, exposing enigmatic or unknown aspects of Somerset. The project aimed to attract new audiences through bringing new and dynamic work to the region, and through a series of associated events.

The project asked artists to find and respond to something about, or that happens in Somerset that is not generally known about. It could be an activity, a hidden landscape, a little known community or industry. It could be a pleasant or an unpleasant discovery.

SAW appointed Guest Curator, Karen Gaskill to support the overall delivery of the project. We worked with Karen to select and deliver new commissions, exposing enigmatic or unknown aspects of Somerset, by three international artists, Karen Guthrie (R+D only), Barber Swindells (Claire Barber & Steve Swindells) & lluminos (Matt & Rob Vale).

Also we worked with international artist designer collective, Konvertible (Lisa Cheung & Sammy Delgado Escobar) to deliver a collaborative project with local artists and makers, Cafe Konvertible in Art Weeks 2011 and Hip Hawker in December 2012.

As part of the project, we supported the process of research and development of artists and curatorial development. We commissioned critical writings on the new commissions and published Creative Endeavours: A curatorial guide for artists in Somerset.

Maximum Exposure was supported by Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts Funding Programme. The project has supported SAW in developing curatorial skills within the organisation and the county’s wider artist community. The funding offered SAW the opportunity to develop new commissions, to work with a Guest Curator and to develop a curatorial toolkits for artists in Somerset.
For Maximum Exposure Barber Swindells responded to the history and current industry of glove making in Yeovil and the surrounding district. Their final commission focused on work wear manufacturers Southcombe Bros who make 80% of fire crew gloves use din the UK. The work launched in June 2012 at Foundry House at Yeovil and placed outdoor during SuperSaturday event in Yeovil in September 2012.